How to Install Your Thermostat – (Steps that you Missed!)

There are many different types of thermostats available in the market. When you purchase a thermostat, it comes with its own instruction manual to guide you on the installation process. Most instruction manuals are very good and you can find your way around them. In this article, we take a look at how to install some examples of thermostats.

How to Install a Nest Thermostat

A Nest Thermostat is a home automation device that allows you to control the temperature and appliances in your house remotely. This thermostat learns your behavioral patterns and adjusts itself accordingly. The device saves you money and energy because it shuts itself down when no one is at home. Installing a Nest Thermostat is not that difficult.

Phillips head screwdriver. The Nest Learning Thermostat comes with its own screwdriver, but a smaller screwdriver may be needed when removing the cables from your current thermostat.

A pencil for marking.

Step by Step Instructions

Switch off the power to your current thermostat. Identify the right circuit breaker, and drag it to the ‘Off’ position.

Locate the wires leading into the current thermostat and label them. Every wire that is coming from the wall should go into a particular labeled terminal on your current thermostat e.g, G, W, Y, R. Join the blue stickers found in the Nest thermostat Guide to the corresponding wires.

Given that the wires are color-coded you’re very lucky. If your old thermostat has thick cables and is labeled 120v or 240v, you have a high voltage HVAC system. Don’t attach the thick wires to the Nest Learning Thermostat.

Remove the current thermostat. Remove the cables coming from the wall into your thermostat. Thereafter, unscrew the thermostat from the wall.

Mark where you will place the Nest thermostat. Pass the wires through the middle of the thermostat’s base plate. Use the small bubble level to ensure that the thermostat is level. Take your pencil and mark 2 holes for the screws.

Attach the trim plate. If you wish to hide the screw holes from the previous thermostat, install the trim plate in the lower part of the Nest device, to the base plate.

Connect the base plate of the thermostat to the wall. The Nest thermostat comes with its own screws and screwdriver, use these to attach the base plate to the wall. Use the level to make the base even.

Attach the wires to the Nest thermostat. Connect the labeled wires to the corresponding terminals on the thermostat. A tiny tab will depress when the wires are well inserted.

Install the Nest thermostat display. Align the tiny rectangular connector behind the display with the terminal on the base.

Switch the power on. Go to the circuit breaker and drag it to the ‘On’ option.

Connect your thermostat to the Wi-Fi network in your home. Read and follow the instructions on the thermostat’s display to locate your Wi-Fi and enter the password.

Read and follow the on-screen setup guide. The extra steps will ensure that the thermostat’s firmware is up-to-date, you’ve attached the wires properly, and allows the thermostat to know the kind of power that is being used by your HVAC system, and where the thermostat is located in your home.

Set the temperature you want. Turn the device to select the temperature you’d like when you’re at home and when you’re away.

Download the Nest mobile application. The Nest app is available for both Android and iOS gadgets. It will allow you to control the thermostat remotely.

In a few days, the Nest thermostat will learn your behavioral patterns and adjust itself accordingly.

Connect the Nest thermostat to the smart devices in your home. The Nest thermostat works with a vast range of smart devices like smart hubs, Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Alexa and Logitech Harmony remote control.

How to Install the Ecobee Thermostat

Ecobee smart thermostats are very efficient and easy to use. Just like the Nest thermostat, ecobee thermostats save you money and energy.

Equipment Needed

A drill to assist you in installing wall anchors when you’re attaching the ecobee to the wall.

Step by Step Instructions

Switch off the power to your HVAC system: Locate the circuit breaker and drag it to the ‘Off’ option.

Look at your thermostat wiring: Different wires that are connected to the thermostat control different aspects of your system. The most usual wires include:

‘R'(Red) which controls the main power;

‘W'(White/Orange) which controls the heat. This wire turns on the electric, gas and oil heater. At times, it may have numbers such as W1 and W2, which is for HVAC systems with multiple heating stages.

‘G'(Green) which controls the fan.

‘Y'(Yellow) which controls the compressor.

‘C'(Blue) which is the common wire.

The actual color of the cable is not important.

Remove your current thermostat: Before you start to disconnect the wires from your thermostat, you can take some photos to show how the wires are attached. If something goes wrong, and you want to re-install the old thermostat, you can use the photos as a reference.

As you study the wiring of the thermostat, look for the C-wire. An ecobee3 will need some form of C-wire to connect it. If you’re lucky, the colors of the wires will correspond to the letters on the ports. However, if the colors of the wires do not correspond to the letters on the ports, you can use the sheet of stickers that come with the ecobee to label the wires.

Once you’re sure, disconnect your wires from the old thermostat. You may notice that you have 5 wires and that only 4 wires were connected to the thermostat. The fifth one was coiled up into the wall. This means that your old thermostat did not need a C-wire. You can use the spare wire as a C-wire when connecting your ecobee thermostat. Go to step 4.2.

Another scenario is that your old thermostat had a wire connected to the ‘C’ port. This means that you have a ‘C’ wire as well. If your system has a ‘C-wire’, label all the cables and skips to step 5. Given that you lack a C-wire continue to step 4.

Attach an ecobee Power Extender Kit(PEK): This step only applies to those who lack a ‘C-wire’. Here, you’ll need to open up your HVAC system and connect some things. If you only have 4 wires from your thermostat wiring, the PEK(which is shipped together with the ecobee) will act as a C-wire to power your ecobee.

Remove the covering of the PEK and look inside. Go to your HVAC system and look for the control panel. Disconnect the 4 wires that head off towards the thermostat.

Thereafter, connect the 5 white wires from the PEK to the corresponding terminals on the control panel. After you’ve wired one side of the PEK to the system, connect the 4 wires that are coming from the thermostat’s location to the corresponding terminals on the other side of the PEK.

When you’re done, put the cover back on the PEK and mount the device at a secure place inside the HVAC system. Use the double stick tape that comes with the ecobee to mount the PEK.

4.2. Connect the spare wire to the HVAC’s control panel: You’ll need to open up your system and locate the wires leading towards the thermostat. Trace them all the way to the control panel and connect the spare wire to the C-terminal of the control panel. Thereafter, you will connect the other end of the same wire to the C-terminal of the thermostat.

Install the back plate of the ecobee: You can use a larger trim plate to conceal the holes, chipped paint, or other unappealing features that were left by the old thermostat. Whether you choose to use the standard trim plate or a larger trim plate, connect the trim plate to the back plate of the ecobee.

Pass the thermostat wires through the circular hole at the center, then place the device against the wall. Use the level (included) to even the device, then mark the position of the 2 mounting screws.

If you wish to utilize dry wall anchors when installing, remove the back plate first. Install the anchors on the marked positions. Thereafter, pass the thermostat wires again through the opening of the mounting plate, level the back plate on your wall, and attach the upper screw.

When the upper screw is in place, swivel the device a bit to even the level bubble in-between the marks. Thereafter, attach the lower screw.

Connect your wires: If you had installed the PEK, you will have to connect the 4 wires to the back plate of the ecobee this way:

R to RC port

G to G port

Y to Y1 port

W to W1 (Aux1) port

Ensure that you connect the appropriately labeled cable.

If you did not require the PEK, just connect all the wires you had labeled (together with the C-wire) to the corresponding ports on the ecobee’s back plate.

Plug in the ecobee thermostat to power it: Gently slide the main body of the ecobee into the back plate until you hear a ‘click’ sound. Go and turn the circuit breaker to the ‘On’ position. You will be greeted by the thermostat’s start-up screen.

The initial configuration: After the device is powered up, it will automatically detect the wires that are connected, and show you on the screen to confirm. If everything is fine, continue with the device’s setup wizard. The ecobee will guide you through equipment configuration, preferences setup, connecting the thermostat to your Wi-Fi, and registering your device to access it via ecobee’s website portal.

Install the remote sensor: The ecobee is shipped with its own remote sensor. However, you can add more and follow the same installation steps. Stand in front of the ecobee and pull the cover behind the remote sensor to attach the internal battery. The thermostat will sense the sensor automatically.

Follow the pairing prompts on the screen to pair, then put the remote sensor elsewhere in your home. You can put it in a room/hallway that has differing temperature levels. Put your sensor some 5ft off the ground.

After installing the remote sensor, enable the ‘Smart Home/’Away’ and ‘Follow Me’ features of the thermostat. These will allow your ecobee to operate smartly. Access these settings on the ‘Sensors’ menu.

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